Two former Parramatta Eels players are accused of harbouring semi-automatic weapons and possessing more than half-a-million dollars in cash after dramatic arrests in Sydney's Centennial Park yesterday.

Levy plan for wealthy public school parents

The head of a private school lobby group in Queensland has called for a public debate about a Medicare-style levy aimed at wealthy parents who send their children to state schools.

David Robertson, executive director of Independent Schools Queensland, said all options had to be considered in the current debate by federal and state politicians over school funding.

Mr Robertson told nine.com.au Australia is entering into a period which will see a new school funding model drawn up, and there should be a “serious debate” about what form it takes.

“We spend $60 billion on schools. We need to ask whether we can continue spending that amount with a shrinking tax base.”

“I believe it would be useful to have a discussion about whether or not affluent parents who choose a state school for the education of their child might make a contribution to the costs through a Medicare-type levy.

“We do it for health, why can’t we do it for education.”

Mr Robertson stressed he was not calling for an end to free education, but said “we need a serious debate about the future of school funding”.

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At this year’s federal election, the Turnbull government pledged to raise school spending by $1.2 billion from 2018-2020.

Last month federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham started talks with state and territory ministers to work out a precise funding deal for 2018-19. Mr Birmingham has suggested previous agreements need revising, and a smarter way to allocate money needs to be found.